Lead Propellant Manager

Stealthrocketrystartup; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation support

Lunch and dinner provided

Company housing

Job summary

Stealthrocketrystartup in Germany seeks a Lead Propellant Manager to direct development, qualification, scale-up, and productionisation of solid propellants for propulsion systems. You will provide technical direction across formulation, processing, characterization, material qualification, and manufacturing readiness.

This senior, hands-on role requires extensive experience in solid propellants or related energetic materials and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams while ensuring

Qualifications

• Significant experience in solid propellant development or energetics.
• Degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, or related field.
• Strong understanding of propellant formulation, processing, and testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead propellant development from formulation to production readiness.
• Set technical direction for propulsion chemistry, processing, and material performance.
• Establish safe, repeatable propellant manufacture, handling, testing, and storage policies.
• Lead investigations into formulation issues, non-conformances, and process variation.
• Coordinate propellant activities across propulsion engineering, manufacturing, test, quality, and procurement.
• Mentor team, document processes, and develop robust engineering methods.

Skills

Solid propellant development

Propellant formulation

Material science knowledge

Project leadership

Experimental design

Education

Chemistry/Chemical engineering/Materials science degree

Tools

Python

Job description

We are looking for a Lead Propellant Manager to lead the development, qualification, scale-up, and productionisation of the solid propellants used in our propulsion systems. You will provide technical direction across formulation, processing, characterisation, material qualification, and manufacturing readiness.

This is a senior, hands-on role for someone with significant experience in solid propellants, energetic materials, chemical processing, or a closely related field. You will work closely with propulsion, manufacturing, test, quality, and supply-chain teams to turn propellant concepts into safe, repeatable, and high-performing propulsion hardware.

About us

We’re a Germany-based rocketry startup currently in stealth mode, scaling up rapidly to meet the demand for high-performance, reliable, and scalable solid propulsion technologies for space and defense applications.

We are already launching suborbital and ballistic rockets on a regular basis, generating significant revenue and applying our knowledge toward the development of an orbital rocket.

We are working hard to build something truly spectacular.

To thrive here you will need to be comfortable working at pace, with the autonomy to make decisions and execute on them quickly. If you’re excited by hard technical challenges and want a role where you will make a real difference each day to the future of the company, we may be the place for you.

At our company, job titles and career progression are earned, not determined by years of experience alone. They reflect the responsibility you take on and the dedication you bring to each project. If you’re ready to rise to the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

• Lead propellant development from formulation and laboratory trials through characterisation, scale-up, qualification, and production readiness.

• Set technical direction for propellant chemistry, processing, material selection, performance, ageing, and compatibility.

• Establish and improve procedures for safe, repeatable propellant manufacture, handling, testing, and storage.

• Lead investigations into formulation issues, non-conformances, unexpected results, process variation, and material compatibility.

• Coordinate propellant activities across propulsion engineering, manufacturing, test, quality, procurement, and suppliers.

• Build the team’s technical capability through mentoring, documentation, process improvement, and the development of robust engineering methods.

What we are looking for

• Significant experience in solid propellant development, energetic materials, chemical processing, or a closely related field.

• A degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, energetic materials, or a related discipline.

• Strong understanding of propellant formulation, processing, characterisation, material behaviour, and experimental design.

• Experience taking propellant formulations or chemical processes from laboratory development toward repeatable production.

• Proven ability to lead complex technical work, make sound engineering decisions, and manage competing priorities.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a methodical approach to safety, quality, traceability, and technical documentation.

Desirable experience

• Solid rocket propellants, binders, oxidisers, metallic fuels, catalysts, or other energetic materials.

• Propellant testing, including burn-rate measurement, thermal analysis, rheology, mechanical testing, ageing, or compatibility studies.

• Scale-up, process qualification, production support, or continuous improvement in a chemical or aerospace manufacturing environment.

• Experience supporting rocket motor development, static-fire testing, qualification, or flight programmes.

• Explosives licensing, hazardous-materials controls, chemical safety, or regulated laboratory and production processes.

• Supplier qualification, incoming-material inspection, non-conformance management, quality systems, or Python-based data analysis.

Benefits and important information:

• We offer top-decile compensation packages, bonuses and meaningful equity, to attract exceptional aerospace talent.

• Every employee is awarded stock options in the company, you will directly benefit from your own hard work and success.

• Comprehensive relocation support including flights, shipping and visas.

• Lunch, dinner and drinks provided everyday

• Free access to shared company housing

Please note, we are a fast paced, hyper-scaling startup. You will need to be comfortable working extended hours with high levels of autonomy, ownership, and flexibility, with contracts structured around a 48-hour working week.

We are committed to building an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, has equal access to opportunity, and can thrive. We welcome different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences—and believe our differences make us stronger.

Compensation: €0 Offers Equity Offers Bonus

• €100,000+ €0 Offers Equity Offers Bonus